Emerging evidence highlights that diet has a significant impact on the development and treatment of IBD.
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are a group of chronic immune-mediated intestinal diseases that involve complex interactions between the host immune system and the gut microbiome. Emerging evidence highlights that diet has a significant impact on the development and treatment of IBD, according to a study published online. nutrients. A literature review by Elizabeth A. Reznikov, DO, PhD, and colleagues aimed to explain the role of dietary interventions in IBD. They focused on Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), with particular emphasis on total enteral nutrition (EEN), complete food-free diets, and the Mediterranean diet.
“The pathogenesis of IBD is not completely understood but is thought to be interconnected with complex interactions between the host immune system and the gut microbiota,” Dr. Reznikov wrote. “Given the increasing prevalence of IBD in countries that adopt a Western lifestyle, the prevailing theory is that the Western diet contributes significantly to the development of IBD. It is being done.”
Popular Meals and Nutrition Plans for IBD
EEN is the cornerstone of remission induction, especially in pediatric CD, with an efficacy rate of approximately 80%. EEN influences the gut microbiota, leading to mucosal healing and systemic anti-inflammatory effects, but the exact mechanism is still under investigation. However, their long-term sustainability is challenged by “formulation fatigue.”
According to this review, partial enteral nutrition (PEN) and Crohn’s disease exclusion diet (CDED) are promising alternatives that combine specific dietary restrictions with partial formula feeding. Studies have shown it to be as effective as EEN in inducing remission, with good tolerability and potential for long-term maintenance. Of note, the researchers found that CDED induced significant changes in the gut microbiome and metabolome, supporting a mechanistic role for CDED in IBD management.
Exclusionary whole food diets such as the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). Low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet. and Mediterranean diets provide additional dietary strategies. SCD shows promise in inducing and maintaining remission in CD and UC, with significant improvements in symptoms, laboratory markers, and mucosal healing. However, research shows that challenges in compliance and sustainability remain prevalent.
FODMAPs and the Mediterranean diet have shown improved symptoms and improved quality of life in IBD patients with functional gastrointestinal symptoms, but evidence regarding their effects on inflammation is limited. Nevertheless, the Mediterranean diet exhibits broader health benefits and may serve as a preferred dietary approach for mild to moderate CD.
The future of diet therapy
Ongoing research highlights the need for individualized dietary treatments tailored to individual patient needs and preferences. Incorporating dietary therapy into clinical practice requires interdisciplinary collaboration involving physicians, dietitians, and patients to establish clear goals and expectations. Furthermore, future studies should delve deeper into the mechanistic basis of dietary interventions and investigate immunological, microbiological, and genetic factors to optimize therapeutic outcomes.
“With further research and integration of dietary habits into clinical practice, dietary interventions have the potential to change the paradigm of IBD,” the researchers wrote.
Overall, dietary interventions play an important role in IBD management and provide an effective strategy to induce remission and improve long-term outcomes. Advancing our understanding of the complex interactions between diet, microbiome, and host immune response could pave the way for personalized dietary approaches that could revolutionize the management of IBD.
“Research on diet and IBD has expanded significantly over the past decade, but there are still many unknowns,” Dr. Reznikov concluded. “Future research should not only provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of effect of dietary therapy, but also expand the clinical application of dietary therapy in IBD. Specific immune cell, cytokine and chemokine profiles, growth and nutritional mediators, Combining immunology and microbiology by assessing metagenomics and nutrigenomics will provide further insight into the mechanisms by which diet influences IBD.”
